Mattel: Multiverse Justice League Batmobile

The run up to the release of Justice League is nearing the final stretch as we close in on November. There is already a formidable amount of product on the shelves in anticipation, most of which we had seen or known about for some time. Among those, Mattel’s standard series Batmobile, a rework of the Batman v Superman one, is available just about everywhere there are figures. And while it’s a fun vehicle for the more toyetic basic figures, it has been the only option for a 6-inch-scale movie Batmobile.

Well, there is, of course, this interactive masterpiece: a phone app-integrating RC model with working LEDs, suspension, smoking exhaust, and an augmented reality mode for firing effects. Naturally, this doesn’t come cheap, though it does look like one helluva toy. Wisely, though, Mattel opted to add a third option, one that has the size and detail of the premium but without the electronics or RC components. The resulting Batmobile comes in at about twice the price of the basic vehicle, but less than a third of the premium.

And man, is she a looker.

At just under 2 feet long, this Batmobile is a much better scale option for a 6-inch figure, feeling appropriately large, but not to the degree that it becomes unwieldy. Composed of a standard plastic, the body is actually pretty lightweight for the size, but as sturdy as the basic ones. The tires are plastic as well, but they are a fully enclosed piece, and while rubber would have been awesome, these look good and they do help keep the weight (and cost) down.

Where this Batmobile really stands out is in weapon detail. The twin GAU-19 miniguns on the hood are very nicely detailed, including feed belts, and it is unencumbered by action features. The barrels don’t turn, but the mounts do traverse. The main cannon, which I think is a M230 chaingun (though in the trailer it feels more like artillery), is equally nicely done, with pivot and traverse. Lastly, the rocket battery up front looks sharp and turns as well.

There are some other nice features that add some functionality to the vehicle as well. The front wheels pivot together for turning, and there are folding panels on the grille, presumably for ramming. And as you would hope, the canopy functions, with a large cockpit that easily fits your 6-inch Batman of choice. There are smoked windows on the canopy, and it hinges up and out for easy access.

Inside, the lack of paint might distract you from seeing it, but the cockpit does has a fair amount of detail. There is even some function, with a moving wheel and gear shift — though this wheel isn’t linked to the axle. And again, the figures fit in here really well. As much as I love how mean this Batmobile version is, I’m a little bummed it isn’t the two-seater the previous model was. I mean, I know what I’m picking if you’re asking whether I’d like a passenger or a cannon, but still.

And that, briefly, is what you’re getting for your $60. Now, is it money well-spent? For once, when talking about Mattel and the Multiverse line, I’m going to say absolutely. While the RC featured version is very tempting, after chasing the pets around for an hour, it’s going to be hard to justify that price point for something that will spend more time on a shelf than on the ground. This model has much of the same good looks, and is still really fun to roll around. I would say the only place that this Batmobile doesn’t get its due is the paint department, but given the price, I think that the work done is decent, and a weathering project might be just the ticket for a rainy afternoon. Get it, get it, get it.